The Vatican Jewel
Chapter 1 - The Hierophant
In tarots, the Hierophant's card represents fruitfulness of thought that generates knowledge, information. It is wisdom, sacredness, divination, gnosis. It indicates faith and religion, meditation and modesty.
On the negative side, however, it reflects hidden grudges, fanaticism. It can generate intolerance and rebellion.
«Our men succeeded, Your Grace!», exclaimed Lupo Mercuri, throwing open the doors leading to the Vatican's baths. «Sforza is dead».
Behind him, Francesco Pazzi rolled his eyes because of all that noise, not helped by the protests of the guards who intimated the two guests to leave His Holiness in peace.
Pope Sixtus, instead, did not seem too bothered by the visit. He carelessly abandoned the little boy he was entertaining himself with in the bathtub and walked out striding to reach the two men. He raised just one hand up, to discharge the guards at the entrance of the room, and waited to see them leaving before continuing the conversation. At that point, he brought his attention back to Francesco Pazzi.
«Florence is ripe for the picking, Your Eminence» the Florentine immediately replied, realizing that that look was a tacit question. «Believe me», he added, bowing to be able to kiss the papal ring.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Mercuri grabbed the Pope's robe, and helped him wearing it.
«You know this how?», asked Sixtus, distrustfully.
«Because I have an agent within Lorenzo's ranks», Lupo promptly replied, carefully fixing the heavy, richly decorated suit.
«And what else do you know?», asked the pope again, not at all convinced.
«The Medici are throwing a Carnival, in a pathetic bid to win the people's favor», continued the Florentine, carrying his hands behind his back in a rigid and solemn pose. «They are weak, but they try to divert people's attention with frivolities like this», he added, with an annoyed expression.
«Holiness...», intruded Lupo Mercuri, with an all-thrilled smile that only annoyed Sixtus even more. «This is your chance to strike», he added softly, like a child waiting for nothing but the permission to play.
In response, the Pope snorted annoyedly: rather than a discussion of political moves and tactics, it seemed to him to be dealing with little boys. He didn't trust at all those two poor henchmen, and he knew that a mission of that caliber needed a different guide.
As if someone had read his mind, the guards outside the door knocked five times, the predetermined signal announcing the guest before even opening the entrance.
«Please», he replied at once, knowing that the solution he was thinking of was right out there.
The massive wooden door opened with a slight squeak, and it was immediately followed by the sound of slow, measured steps on the marble of the hall.
The two guests turned confused and inquisitive, while Sixtus let slip a satisfied smile.
«Gentlemen...», the Pope began, with a note of pride. «I present you one of the Vatican's most precious jewels».
The newly-entered guest allowed to herself a smugly smile as she reached the small group. Once in front of Sixtus, she hinted at a bow, but not even such a humble gesture scratched her proud and haughty attitude.
Neither did the completely black clothes, a hallmark of the Vatican uniform with only a little hint of white brought by the symbol of the Church sewn on the chest, nor the hair gathered in an elaborate and austere hairstyle, much less the sword or the stiletto in the belt... None of this affected her beauty or femininity, not even a bit. Her gaze, lively and proud, manifested all her confidence, and would have been able to subdue anyone in a blink.
«Holy Father», said the young woman, decisively.
In response, the man raised a hand and pointed her at the two guests.
«My niece, and countess, Gemma Riario», said the Pope, with a satisfied grin.
A little surprised, Francesco Pazzi just bend his head in a nod. On the contrary, Cardinal Mercuri improvised himself being a gentleman and bowed in a gallant hand kiss. In all likelihood, it was a way like any other to ingratiate His Holiness, after seeing the pride he showed towards the young woman.
«I have heard wonderfully of you», the cardinal continued, with a smile of flattery, but the Countess didn't bother to answer except for a nod of assent.
«A woman, Your Holiness? », asked Francesco Pazzi, instead, doing nothing to conceal his skepticism.
«I advise you not to underestimate her», Sixtus readily retorted, hardening the tone of his voice. «It is one of the best weapons available to the Holy Roman Church».
«It is never wise to be deceived by appearances», added Countess Riario, with a smile of mocking kindness that surely did not conceal a note of warning.
Sensing that the situation was evolving against him, the Florentine pretended the best of the expressions of condescension, and strove to please Pope Sixtus.
«Surely you have the element of surprise», the man replied, nodding. «An unusual tactic, but very interesting».
Gemma Riario was very well used to such reactions and comments, and over the years she had learned to let any mistrust from others roll off her back: sooner or later, everyone realized what a huge mistake it was to believe her to be harmless, and the satisfaction of seeing their expressions getting intimidated, realizing how dangerous she really was, was an excellent reward.
«You will soon have proof of my worth, you don't have to worry», replied the Countess, with a smile of fake courtesy.
At that statement, both Francesco Pazzi and Lupo Mercuri turned to Pope Sixtus, the expression of their faces vaguely confused in a tacit request for explanations.
«I am sure that my niece will be more than a valid help in our plan against the Medici», the Pope explained, better settling his robe. «Something to the contrary, by chance?», he added, an absolutely rhetorical question.
«No, of course not», the two promptly replied, prompting Gemma to smile with satisfaction: such two frightened pooches.
«So get on with it», His Holiness said, returning stern.
«Absolutely», Francesco Pazzi assured him.
«There is another reason for haste», added Lupo Mercuri, becoming gloomier. «The Turk has arrived in Florence. He's after the Book of Leaves».
At those words Gemma also returned serious and turned to the cardinal. Sixtus, on the other hand, evidently annoyed by having named that artifact as if its importance could surpass ending the Medici dynasty, mumbled something incomprehensible and went away striding across the room.
Before reaching the door, however, he turned one last time, and glanced coldly and sternly at his niece. Cardinal Mercuri and Francesco Pazzi looked confused, but Gemma understood perfectly what had just been ordered to her, without even needing a word. She nodded, and Sixtus finally left the hall.
The Countess, on the other hand, turned to the bathtub and bent her lips into a smile imbued with falsehood and sarcasm, as she slowly approached the stairs lapped by the hot water, her gaze was pointed at the young boy who, for the whole time of the conversation, had remained seated in silence.
«I'm... truly sorry», she muttered, slightly bending her head to the side as she plunged into the water.
«Why?», the boy stammered, with a thread of voice.
Gemma's hand slid silently to her belt and clenched around the grip of the stiletto, but her gaze remained still in the young man's eyes.
«Because you can't have heard this», she simply replied.
In an instant, her expression became cold and apathetic, as if suddenly she had lost every ability to feel any emotion, and it remained so, as she drew the weapon from her belt and with a sharp act cut the boy's throat. The victim could emit anything but a choked groan as he fell back into the water, that was slowly becoming scarlet red.
Gemma dipped the stiletto in the tub, cleaning it up from the blood, and then stored it back in the belt with a fluid and elegant movement. She turned to the two guests, who had meanwhile been petrified in front of that scene, their expressions were utterly frozen.
The Countess emerged from the bathtub, and joined them on the marble walkway, as if nothing had happened. At the very least, she had already shown them how unfounded any prejudice was.
«Well, gentlemen», Gemma began, joining her hands in front of her. «Shall we pursue?»
- About me -
Hi everyone!
I'm so happy to finally be here!
First of all, I would like to put here a little "disclaimer": English is not my first language, I'm Italian and I first wrote this story in Italian, but I was (and I still am) so proud of the character of Countess Gemma Riario that I decided to challenge myself translating it in English. I hope I've done a good work, but if there is any mistake please let me know, I'll correct it and it will be also an improvement for my English.
Other than that, I hope you'll like the story, I worked a lot on it and on this new character.
My goal was to rewrite the whole first season with Gemma instead of Girolamo, and maybe now the new goal will be to translate all of the 19 chapters of the story. If you'll like the first few chapters, it will be a pleasure to continue.
Also, it would mean the world to me if you would leave a comment, even just a few words.
Thanks for everything!
Kisses
Amy Wendys
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